St. Louis Catholic Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1854 by the people of La Grange, St. Louis Catholic Church is a modest wood-frame building in Stanislaus County, California. It is described as the oldest church in the county and probably one of the oldest in the state outside the Missions. The design is a simple vernacular version of Greek Revival, with a central pedimented entrance, corner pilasters, a boxed gable roof, and symmetrically placed six-over-six double-hung windows with simple pediments. A small rear addition repeats the classic form and cornice details, and a concrete foundation has replaced the original stone one. The church keeps its original setting, a 19th century cemetery of individual family plots enclosed by elaborate Gothic style cast iron fences, with headstones dating to the mid-nineteenth century. It still holds occasional services. Its importance lies in its age and in its example of a building style that once dotted the towns and hillsides of Gold Rush California.
Significance in brief: The nomination states it is the oldest church in Stanislaus County and probably one of the oldest in California outside the Missions. It is also significant architecturally as a vernacular Greek Revival structure, evidence of a style once common in Gold Rush California towns.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79003460, listed August 24, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | La Grange Rd. and Floto St., La Grange |
|---|---|
| County | Stanislaus County |
| Listed | August 24, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003460 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Builder: People of La Grange |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated fair; used for occasional church services. The original stone foundation has been replaced by concrete. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.66272, -120.46179 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79003460.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7589588
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.